Hoisting sling



. 5, 1944. H. SONNTAG HOISTING SLING Filed Dec. 5, 1945 MHH@ Il Il?? l l] Il larly defined by claims Patented Dec. 5, 944

zeiglicit`- e Hois'rINGlsLmd f Hermann Sonntag, Whittier, Calif., assigner to. `1 yConsolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, San

Diego, Calif.,a corporationlof Delaware e application December 3,` 1943, SerialNo. 512,717 1o claims. miese-.474)

free invention relates teheisting slings.

In handling loads in aircraft, particularly the `heavier types ofbombs and torpedoes, the restricted areas available around the bomb racks have made it necessary to use a pluralitylof hoisting mechanisms and slings for loading `the bombs into the racks. chronizing the movements `ofthe hoisting cables and the duplicationof the `hoisting mechanisms l `for the slings and the attachment of` the hoist# The necessity 'of syning* mechanisms to the airplanelstructuregand the-hazard of slippage of the load in theslings, present problems in the installation and opera- 4 tionof `bomb hoisting mechanisms in aircraft.

Oneobject ofmthe invention is to provide an enicient hoisting sling which is adapte-d singly tohandle a bomb, torpedo *and other load, withv out hazard `of slippage of the bomb in the sling, andwhich can readily be wrapped around `and released from theload. f t Another object of the `invention is to provide an improve-d hoisting sling which is operable by` asingle winding mechanism, is simple in conautomatically tightened around the load to prevent `slil'pb'e during the `hoisting and transportation of the load, and is releasable from the in the limited area available in aircraft. Y `Other objectsof the invention will appear from `load the detailed description.

Theinvention consists in the severalnovel fea-` tures hereinafter setfforth "and morel particu-f e atthe conclusion hereof.

In the drawing:`

Figure 11 is aside elevation of the hoisting mechanism as used in connection with a bomb rack in aircraft. n n i p Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the slingr illustrating it tightened around a load.

e ,Fig. 3 is an 'inverted plan ofthe bearing shoe. which is `formed as alink `of the chain for slidable engagement with the hoisting cable.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of `:the bearing shoe.H

Fig.`5 is aperspective of the iittingandfthe lever carried thereby, the lever` being shown in full lines in its chain tightening position and by dotted lines in position for threading' the `free end of the chainthrough the iitting.` t

Fig. 6 is a section taken on lineG-f of Fig, 2. The invention is exemplified with a hoisting cable a which has `one of its ends connected to winding mechanism for raisinggandlowering the load `and which mayicomprise a drum b opera;` ble by a crank` b "through suitable` gearing.` as` wen understeedin the art. The eene extends from the winding drum over a pair of' overhead sheaves a', azfrorn the latter of `which the. cable extends when under load downwardly `as a s vertical suspension line.` The cable a and winding mechanismb `maybe associatedwith-.a bomb rack dof any `suitable construction.` The `sheaves a andaz and the winding mechanism b are sup` ,f ported on thelfuselage structure;` `The winding `mechanism lmay be'of any suitable construction v and either m'anuallyor power operated, as well 'understood in the art; The free `orrload end of .the cable `ai is provided withla coupling a:i `which is provided with an eye for detachably. cornriect ingit to the hoisting sling. I v

The sling comprises a -chain of suflicient i e chain c `is preferably `formed ofdual sections arranged` side `by side for gripping a sufllcient' longitudinal` area of the bomb to prevent longi-` tudinal tilting of the bomb `when it' is gripped Y at its central Vlongitudinal center. f Each linksection of the chain comprises two pairs of links 1(1,yeach pair `spaced apart by a roller` sleeve Il,

` struction, adapted to be quickly applied to and cross-pins I 2 extending through both pairsvof links,` and two pairs of links I3 between the One end of the chain is free `so that it `can be wrapped around and removed from the load` The other endof the chain c has pivotally connected thereto by al cross-pin i4 a tting or bracket l5 which carries meansfor tightening and locking the chain around the load. Fitting t I5 `comprises a transversely extending base I6, i `theinner `face Ia of which is adapted to` bear againsttthe periphery of the bomb. The outer face `I Sb of base i6 forms a bearing for the chain.

Fitting l5has integral upstanding sides I ibetween which the chain is adapted to slide.

.Ai lever26 is" fulcrumed on a cross-pin 231 which extends through thvsides Hof fitting I5. "The outer end of lever `2E is detachably connectedby a pin` 24 tothe coupling a3 on the load-end of `the cablea. The inner end of lever 2E is forked as at 28 to `receive and straddle a `pair of the Asleeve rollers ll I on `any ofthe cross-pins 2 ci i; thechain. vThe bearing face 1Gb on the base lseeeetshwith the forked end ofthe lever te hold thechain engaged by the lever. `'lflie face` I61D terminatesin an outward curve which `angularly deflects thefree end ofthe` chain around the portion of the chain which is `attached by` pin |4150 the tting l5.

swung intoI the position" indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 2, to permit the free end of the chain `to be passed through the fitting `and `ziiawxrtaut e length `to encircle a bomb of the largest diameter. The

The lever 26 can be around the bomb before the lever 26 is swung into engagement with a pair of the roller-sleeves I I on one cross-pin I2 of the chain.` i

A bearing shoe I8 is included as an elongated link of the chain and has its ends connected by cross-pins I2 to the adjacent links of the chain. This shoe comprises a curved transverse wall 20 and inwardly extending integral sides I9 through which the cross-pins I 2a pass. The inner face 22 oi the cross-wall 20 is angular or curved and functions as a bearing surface which is slidably engageablewith the cable a. The cable at its load passes from its vertica1 suspension line under the bearing surface 22 and aroundV the 'chain c at one side of theshoe and its coupling a3 is detachably connectable by pin 24 to the outer end of lever 26. The cable engaging face 22 is arched transversely to centralize the cable longitudinally in the shoe.'

The operation,assuming the load to be a bomb, the periphery of which is indicated `at e, will be as follows: The chainc with the shoe I8 included therein, and the fitting I5 attached to one end, will be looped aroundthe bomb located at the point from which it is to be hoisted, and its free end passed through the iitting I5 and between the lever 26 and the cross-Wall I6 while the latter isswung into position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2i. The chain will be positioned at the longitudinal center of the` load and circumferentially so that the usual lugs on the bomb willv be positioned for connection to the bomb shackle on the bomb rack on whichthe bomb is to be loaded when the Winding mechanism is operated to lift lthe bomb. The chain is drawn snugly around the bomb and the forked end of lever 26 will be swung into engagement with a pair of roller sleeves I I on one of the cross-pins I2. The

coupling a3 of cable a will then be connected by coupling pin 24 to the lever 26. mechanism will then be operated to wind a. and hoist the bomb. Asthe cable is wound on the drum,V it is subjected to tension as it is initially strained by the load. This tension will cause the cable to slide on the angular bearing surface 22 of the shoe I8 and rock lever 26 to cause its forked end to draw the chain tightly into clamping relation with the bomb. During this operation, the bomb will be automatically centered below the vertical suspension line of the cable. The winding of the cable on the drum of the winding mechanism will be continued until the bomb has been elevated into position `where it can be readily latched toa bomb-shackle on the bomb rack. During this lifting operation, the chain and shoe I8 will be tightly clamped around the bomb by the tension on the cable provided by the Weight of the bomb. When the bomb has been hoisted into position to be connected to thev bomb-shackle on the bomb-rack, the tension on the cable will be released by unwinding it from the drum of the winding mechanism." The coupling a3 will then be disconnected from the lever 26 by the removal of .for convenient removal from the bomb while it is suspended in the bomb rack. The chain, having a free end which can be drawn through the fitting I5 to enlarge or decrease the looped portion around the bomb, is adapted for hoisting bombs of widelydifierent diameters or loads ,of widely ydifferent shapes. In practice, the shoe I8 is connected to the chain approximately 36 inches from The winding the iitting I5 and this adapts the hoisting sling for bombs of 250 lbs. and-all weights thereover.

The invention exempliiies a hoisting sling which is usable to load bombs where restricted areas are available, and does not require the use `of a plurality of hoists or slings for handling the bombs. The clamping pressure exerted by the bend in the cable produced by the shoe in the chain produces eiiicient clamping pressure of the sling around the bomb or load. This bearing shoe I8 is adapted to be inserted between the links of the chain. The invention also exemplies a hoisting sling which is simple in construction, adapted for hoisting bombs of varying sizes', and efcient in operation.

While the invention is particularly advanta geous for hoisting bombs, torpedoes or the like, it may also be used for loads of other types which are adapted to be gripped in a sling.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope vof the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is? g l. A load sling for a hoisting cable comprising a chain adapted to be Wrapped around the load and having a free end, a iitting connected to the other end of the chain and through which said free end can b'e passed, a shoe connected to the chain in spaced relation from the tting, having a bearing face for a portion of the kcable deflected from its vertical suspension line and for slidable engagement with the cable, and means in the tting for engaging the chain and to which the ends of the 'deflected portionY of the cable from the shoe is connectable forrtightening the chain around the load when the cable is tensioned by the load.

2. A load sling for a hoisting cable'comprising a chain adapted to be wrapped around the load and having a free end, a tting connected to.

the other end of the chain and through which said free end can be passed, a shoe connected to the chain in spaced relation from the tting,

having a bearing face for a portion of the cable l the cable is tensioned by the load. y i

3. A load sling for a hoisting cable comprisin a chain adapted to be wrapped around the load and having a free end,4 a fitting connected to the other end of the chain/and through which said free end can be passed, a `shoe forming a link in the chain in spaced lrelation from the iitting, having a bearing face for a portion'of the cable deflected from its vertical suspension'line and for slidable engagement with the cable, and means in the ttingfor engagingfthe chain and to which the end of the deilectedportion of the cable from the shoe is connectable for tightening the chain around the load when the cable is tensioned by the load. y

4. A load sling for a hoisting cable 4comprising a chain adapted to be'wrapped around the load and having a free end, a tting connected to the other endof the chain and through which said free end can be passed, a shoe forming a link-in the chain 'in spaced relation from the fitting,

having on `its. under side a bearing face for a portion of `the cable deectedfrom itsV vertical `suspension lineand for slidable engagementwith the cable, and a lever fulcrumed in the fitting l for engaging the chain and to which the end of the deflected portion of the cable from the shoe is connectable for tightening the chain around the load when the cablejis tensioned by the load;r

5. The combination with ahoisting cable, of a sling comprising a chain adapted to be Wrapped around the load and having a free end, a fittingl connected to the other end of the `chain and through Which said free `end can bepassed,` a shoe connected to the chain, in spaced relation from the fitting, having a bearing face for slid-` able engagement with a portion of the cable ex-H tending angularly from its Vertical suspension line, and means in the iitting for engaging and tightening the chain, the cable being exed from its vertical suspension line around and under the angular bearing face on the shoe and having its load-enddetachably connected to said means chainthe cable being iiexed `from its vertical suspension line` around and under the angular` bearing face on `the shoe and having its load end detachably connected to the lever fortightenfing' y the chain whenthe cable" is tensioned by the l load.

l line around and under the bearing face on the for tightening the chain when the cableis ten-` sioned bythe load.

` 6. The lcombination with a hoisting cable, of a sling comprising a. `chain adapted to be wrapped around the load andhaving al free end, a fitting connected to the other'end of` the chain and through Whichsaid free end can be passed, a

shoe connecteduto the chain,` ins'paced relation from the tting, havinga bearing face for slid-` able engagement With a portion of the cable extending angularly from its vertical suspension line, `and a lever fulcrumed in thetting for engaging and tightening the chain, thecable be-` ing flexed from its vertical suspension line around .and under the angular bearing face on the shoe and having its load end detachably connected to l the lever lfor tightening the chain when the cable is tensioned by the load.`

7. The combination with `a hoisting cable, of a sling comprising a chain adapted to be Wrapped around the load and having a rfree end, a fitting connected to `the other end of the chain and through Which said `free endcan be passed, a

shoe forming a link in the chainin spaced relation from `the tting, having on its under sidea .bearing face for slidable engagement with a portion of the cable extending angularly `from its Vertical suspension line,` and a lever fulcrumed '8. The combinationwith a hoisting cable, of a sling comprising a chain adaptedto be wrapped around the load, having affree` end, a iitting connected to the other end of the chain and through Whichsaidfree end can be passed, a shoe .form-V ing a link in the chain in `spaced relation from` theifitting, and comprising a cross-Wall having on its underside a bearing face `for slidable engagement With a portion of the cable `extend-` ing angularly Ifrom `its `vertical suspension line and sideshaving their ends pivoted to contigucus links in the drum, and a lever fulcrumed in the tting for engaging and tightening the chain, the cable being ilexed from its vertical suspension tion of the cable is deiiectedpartially` around the` e load from the vertical suspension line "of `the cable, and means connected to the end `ofthe deected portion Vof the cable and between the `ends of the chain for tightening the load by tension on the cable load.

10, A load sling for vvhen it is operated to move the a hoisting cable comprising l a chain adapted to `be wrapped around aload in the tting for engaging and tightening the andhaving separable ends, a shoe included in the chain, having a bearing face for slidable engagement with the cable and by Which a portion of the cable is deflected partially 'around the load from the verticalsuspension line of the uload by tension on cable, and a lever operatively connected to one 1 end `of the deflected portion of the cable, hav` `ing a fulcrum connected to one end of the chain and hooked means for engagingthe other end of vthe `chain for tightening the chain around the the cable when it is operated to move the load. HERMANN SONNTAG. 

